Weight gain...

Hi there

You have my sympathy here. I started off treatment as 'overweight' as far as bmi goes and have reached the giddy heights of 'obese'. Although my clothes feel slightly tight, I haven't had to buy anything in a bigger size so I've no idea where I'm carrying it.

It could be fluid retention. Are your feet and ankles puffy? My shoes feel kind of tight but I put that down to the peripheral neuropathy.

Steroids tend to make you eat more too. The girls in oncology said 'make healthy choices' but it's hard to persuade your brain to make do with an apple when it's shouting for chocolate and crisps.

People think when you're having treatment for cancer you look ill and get skinny but my oncologist said the bc chemo tends to do the opposite. She was right.

I'm worried I'm going to end up on a tv show being taken out of my house by crane!

My treatment's finished now apart from Herceptin so I better get into the gym.

x

hi, I was on a diet trial whilst having treatment, however I still put on weight . The diet recommended is the medertrainian diet . Try to eat healthy it will help with the recovery. Although I know that's easier said than done. Xx

I have a lot of weight to lose, most from before chemo, but I was told I was not allowed to diet whilst getting chemo

Although I did ask if I could still drink dandelion tea to help fluid retention and they said yes.

Mo

I have just finished my entire Chemo treatment a few days ago. I too had EC chemo and then 12 weeks of Paclitaxol and Herceptin.

I found that the steroids / anti-sickness drugs made me lose my mind for a few days when it came to food choices. There isn't a lot you can do about it. I have gained 10KG over the chemo treatment of 6 months and now I'm about to start getting rid of it all.

Try not to be hard on yourself as the fatigue and weak blood means you really are not able to do much physically and the end result will be weight gain.

The most important thing for you to do is rest and get better! I was and still am, obsessed with using nutrition to fight the side effects... you can read my nutrition stuff here: https://theartofsuffering.wordpress.com/

Keep smiling and fighting! xxx

While I was going through treatment I basically followed the Filling and Healthy approach from Weight Watchers as you can eat till satisfied but they are all good foods. I also ate what I fancied some days because you have to be nice to yourself after Chemo !!. I did put a little weight on over the nine months of treatment but felt I gave my body the best chance to deal with what was happening to it. I also drank lots of water.

Errr well I guess I fit the skinny and Ill mode, I'm half way through my chemo 4 FEC completed just about to start on 4 Taxol and so far I've lost 6 kilos!!!!!! Onco is going bonkers with me about putting on weight, I'm eating healthly and normal pretty well but the weight just won't go on.......not sure which situation is worst!!!

CC

I've put on 1stone I feel horrible I finished chemo 3 weeks ago so I'm not rushing just trying eat a bit better and up my activity gradually I'm upset  can't get in any of my jeans but I'm alive just a bit bigger ..

Hello ctrigg 

i finished chemo in November, rest of treatment in March. I too put on a stone and really hated it however I have just started to diet properly and it's going well. As you are a triple neg lady too, you are likely to restart your periods. Mine came back 5 months after end of chemo and it wasn't until then I found that my body would respond to dieting. There is a big connection between hormones and body weight. You may find that when your cycles start getting normal, your body will kickstart back into weight loss if you want it too. View the weight gain as temporary but don't dwell as it can add to the ever increasing anxiety . Julia x

I am having exactly the same problem. Been trying to eat healthily but also allowing myself the odd treat to keep my spirits up. I’ve gained 7kilos already and my weight has always been really steady before! I’ve got 9 weeks to go and the thought of going on a strict diet just makes me depressed!!